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Apple’s electric car is real, and it’s almost ready for testing

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Apple Car might be coming, but will it be special?
Apple Car might be coming, but will it be special?
Image: Aristomenis Tsirbas/Freelancer

Apple is definitely working on a self-driving car project, and according to some new documents, Project Titan appears to be further along than anyone thought.

Rumors of Apple’s car project first starting surfacing at the beginning of this year, with an announcement not expected until 2020 at the earliest, but the Guardian reports that Apple is already trying to secure a super-secret Bay Area test facility for the electric car.

Super-sized bands makes Apple Watch fit for linebackers

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Apple Watch
Apple Watch bands now come in XL.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch owners with gigantic wrists are getting some relief today from Apple with a new set of extra-long bands that that can wrap around wrists up to 245mm.

The Apple Store is now stocking a new Link Bracelet Kit that can an add up to six additional stainless steel links to the 42mm Link bracelet. Apple is also introducing some new XL Sport bands for those using the cheaper model.

How to make Siri fetch your photos in iOS 9

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Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

I wanted to find photos from my vacation a couple of weeks ago, so I figured I’d try out Siri’s new iOS 9 functionality.

“Siri,” I said, “show me photos from Hawaii.”

Dutifully, Apple’s updated digital assistant pulled up photos from my trip to Oahu a couple of years ago. They’re lovely, but I wanted more recent pictures.

“Siri, show me photos from Hawaii last week,” I said, reasonably.

As soon as I finished speaking, there they were. Siri had launched my Photos app on my iPhone and brought up the photos I’d taken while in Kona. Great stuff.

Here are some other ways you can get Siri to find the photos you want in the huge pile you have sitting on your iPhone.

Apple vs. Google: Which titan will crumble first?

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Who's your money on?
Who is your money on?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Like every other company, Apple and Google have had their share of highs and lows in the past — but one thing that’s for sure is that neither of them can keep going from strength-to-strength indefinitely; they’ll both stumble at some point in the future.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2But which will be the first to take a tumble?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we battle it out over that very question!

Obama shuns Apple Music to share vacation playlists

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Maybe the coolest, most tech savvy president ever.
Maybe the coolest, most tech savvy president ever.
Photo: The White House

“Welcome to Spotify, Mr. President,” tweeted the streaming music giant Friday morning. That’s right: The president of the United States just shared two vacation playlists — and he didn’t use Apple Music.

The two music lists, titled “The President’s Summer Playlist: Day” and “The President’s Summer Playlist: Night,” contain 20 songs each, showing an eclectic taste with a diverse artist representation, including the Isley Brothers, Bob Dylan, Otis Redding and (ugh) Coldplay.

iPad Air 3 could be a no-show at Apple event

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iPad Mini 4 upgrades won't suck.
iPad Mini 4 upgrades won't suck.
Photo: Apple

Apple is expected to unveil its new lineup of iPads at a keynote event in early September, but according to a recent rumor mill, the iPad Air 3 might not make an appearance on stage.

Chinese-based tablet supply chain makers have supposedly received decreasing orders because Apple plans to be more conservative with its tablet product line, claims DigiTimes sources who say a replacement for the iPad Air 2 isn’t in the works yet.

Create 20 iOS games for 20 bucks with this bundle of lessons [Deals]

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This bundle of lessons teaches how to develop iOS games across four different genres.
This bundle of lessons teaches how to develop iOS games across four different genres.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

 

Making games can be as fun as playing them, and the key to mastering both is practice. After working through this bundle of lessons, you’ll be ready for the iOS game-making equivalent of Carnegie Hall. Covering the how-tos with over 20 games in four different genres, this package from StackSkills usually goes for over $2,000. But right now the whole thing is just $20 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Video reminds us of how far iOS and Android have come

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video-reminds-us-of-how-far-ios-and-android-have-come-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201302Android-vs-Apple-Round-1--jpg
Android vs Apple Round 1
Ready? Fight!

We’ve spent thousands of man-hours over the years debating whether Android is better than iOS, or vice versa. A new video series by YouTube video producers ColdfusTion explores that same premise, by talking through the history of both platforms and how they’ve evolved over the years.

Whether you’re new to the world of mobile, or just fancy a trip down memory lane on a Friday, it’s well worth a watch. Check it out below:

Alabama Shakes singer gives Instagram guitar lesson

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Brittany Howard and the Alabama Shakes on tour in 2014.
Brittany Howard and the Alabama Shakes on tour in 2014.
Photo: Liza Agsalud/Wikipedia CC

Rock music history is rife with musicians who developed a sort of god complex from money and fame.

A recent posting on Instagram indicates fame is unlikely to corrupt Brittany Howard, lead singer and guitarist for Alabama Shakes, who used the photo- and video-sharing platform to give a fan a guitar lesson.

Vacation vicariously with these must-see summer travel films

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Didn't get away this summer? These videos let you vacation vicariously.
Didn't get away this summer? These videos let you vacation vicariously.
Photo: Stefanie Magnolia/Vimeo

Vacation films used to be something to fear. The blurry Super 8 home movie from the lake or the two-hour slide show of the neighbor’s trip to the Badlands would quickly put us to sleep (although we might have preferred death).

But these days, anyone can shoot and edit their vacation films with cinematic flair thanks to the latest smartphones and software that gives us tools that once required a film school degree. Just look at these stunning videos and you’ll see state-of-the-art summer memories, circa 2015.

Apple might try to turn your car into a cockpit

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Apple's first car product might be a heads-up display.
Apple's first car product might be a heads-up display.
Photo: Milan Nykodym/Flickr

Apple is looking to bring fighter-jet technology to your car’s dashboard, according to a new report that claims the iPhone maker is working on a 27- to 50-inch heads-up display for automobiles that will be completely controlled by gestures.

Apple reportedly presses pause on its TV service

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Complications with the TV networks might push back Apple's live TV service announcement.
Photo: Apple

Originally slated for announcement during Apple’s alleged September 9 event, the rumored live TV service launch is now being pushed back to 2016. It turns out those stubborn TV networks are foiling Apple’s plans to deliver sooner. Fortunately, the new Apple TV hardware should still get a proper unveiling next month.

Leaked memo reveals Apple’s obsession with packaging

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Apple store istanbul
Apple Stores are about to look like this inside and out.
Photo: Apple

We already knew that Apple has taken an interest in how its third-party partners present their wares in the Apple Store, but a leaked memo is describing just how seriously the company is taking this new initiative.

Other than the clean white background that it’s so fond of, Apple is also asking vendors to pay attention to the typefaces they use and even the angles from which they photograph their products.

So it turns out Apple is controlling and particular. Who knew?

Whip out iOS 9’s Wallet app from your lock screen

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Apple Pay iPhone
Yet another reason to use Apple Pay.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new Wallet app replaces Passbook in iOS 9, currently in public beta. Just like Passbook, when you wave your iPhone at an Apple Pay kiosk, it will only let you choose your default credit card and pay for the goods or services you bought.

In iOS 9 beta, you’ll also be able to choose any of your other provisioned credit cards from your Apple Pay account without even unlocking your iPhone or accessing the Wallet app.

Here’s how.

Marc Newson says auto industry is ‘at the bottom of a trough’

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Marc Newson is peeved at the auto industry but he loves vintage Ferraris.
Marc Newson is peeved at the auto industry but he loves vintage Ferraris.
Photo: Spanich Coches/Flickr

It’s an open secret that Apple is poised to take on the auto industry with its rumored electric car project, and according to Apple design guru Marc Newson, the automotive industry is stalled.

In a new interview, the Apple designer touches on a number of topics, ranging from his love of fountain pens to his current design pet peeve: boring cars.

Apple’s last iOS 8 update fine-tunes Apple Music

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A new iOS 8 update is here.
A new iOS 8 update is here.
Photo: Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

We’re eagerly anticipating iOS 9 next month, but Apple’s got a few more fixes to give us in iOS 8.4.1, which is likely the final mobile upgrade to iOS 8.

Apple released iOS 8.4.1 to the public this morning, bringing with it a number of performance enhancements and bug fixes, plus some nice updates for Apple Music and Beats 1.

Save up to 85% on our favorite backup solutions [Deals]

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SkyHub Cloud's lifetime subscription backs up all your data across 3 devices.
SkyHub Cloud's lifetime subscription backs up all your data across 3 devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve got data, you’ve got a good reason to keep it secure. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the best in the business of backup to guarantee the solution that meets your needs. But act quick, these deals won’t be around for long.

This power strip will take all devices and not overcharge

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Satechi's aluminum power strip provides one elegant charging home for your devices.
Satechi's aluminum power strip provides one elegant charging home for your devices.
Photo: Satechi

Each of our devices needs a mothership so to speak, that place where, at the end of a long day with the battery in the red, they can all return to one place and dock to recharge. This thought occurs to me every time I go to leave the house and must first round up my phone, iPad, computer and camera batteries from the various outlets I left them at the night before.

The accessories company Satechi has built the International Space Station of power strips.